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The ex-president of France will soon publish a personal account in the coming weeks called A Prisoner’s Diary, which recounts his experience endured behind bars.

The revelation was made just 11 days following the ex-leader gained freedom while his appeal proceeds the court ruling related to illegal collaboration in a case to secure presidential race money linked to the leadership of Muammar Gaddafi.

Time in Custody: Personal Reflections

“Inside jail one sees little, and nothing to do,” he reflects in one passage, suggesting the book is more about his reflections while in seclusion rather than wider commentary of the packed and struggling correctional facilities in the country.

“I forget silence, not present in La Santé, where one hears endless commotion,” he continues. “The racket unfortunately never stops. Yet, similar to barren lands, inner life is strengthened while incarcerated.”

Freedom Plea: Recounting the Hardship

At his release request hearing, Sarkozy was present by video link from a room in prison, describing his time inside as exhausting. He had told the court: “I want to pay tribute those working in the jail, showing great humanity, and who helped make this difficult experience manageable – as it truly is one.”

“I never imagined that at 70 years of age, I would end up incarcerated. It’s an ordeal I must endure. I confess it’s hard, extremely tough. It affects one every inmate as it’s exhausting.”

Historical Context

Sarkozy, who led the nation for a five-year term, set a precedent as ex-leader in the European Union and the first leader since WWII from France to experience jail.

Prior to imprisonment he had said he would use his time to write a book.

Cell Library

Unconfirmed is did he manage to read and critique the texts he took into prison: a two-volume biography of Jesus together with Dumas’s work the classic tale, where a blameless person is sentenced to jail but escapes to take revenge.

Prison Conditions

He remained in solitary confinement to protect him in a space roughly 100 square feet including private facilities at La Santé prison in Paris. Two bodyguards stayed in a neighbouring cell.

It was stated his diet consisted just yogurt in prison because he feared any food might have been spat on. Options were available for self-catering yet he declined, as per accounts. Not known is whether Sarkozy will write about meals during incarceration.

Legal Perspective

Sarkozy’s lawyer, who visited his client daily while he was in prison, informed the court security would be better outside jail rather than in custody. “There were menacing messages, heard shouts after dark and emergency responses in an adjacent room during an inmate’s self-injury.”

Case Background

Sarkozy went to prison last month after a French court imposed a half-decade term for illegal collaboration in connection with efforts to obtain campaign funds for his presidential bid.

He denies wrongdoing and is contesting the ruling, and another court case set for next spring.